Sugar-cane-crushing apparatus



June 17, 1930. F. MAXWELL- 1,763,855

SUGAR CANE CRUSHING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 17, 1930.

F. MAXWELL SUGAR CANE CRUSHING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o :2- 22 -o o 7 0 0 36 9 Ill Patented June 17, 1930 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FRANCIS MAXWELL, F WALLINGTON, ENGLAND SUGAR-CANE-GRUSHING APPARATUS Application filed June 23, 1927; Serial no. 200,891.

This invention relates to sugar cane crush- Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a similar ap ing apparatus wherein'a'shredding roll roparatus, having a somewhat modified form tating at relatively high speed cooperates and arrangement of parts, and with one rollof a pair of rolls which are Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the 5 adapted to receive, press and feed sugar cane parts shown in Fig. 4, certain of them be- 60 therebetween. More especially this invening illustrated in another position. tion relates to improvements in the structure The machine or apparatus selected to iland arrangement of the parts of machines or lustrate my invention is of the type by the apparatus of this type. use of which cane is received and pressed be- One ofthe objects of this invention is to 'tween a pair of comparatively slowly rotatprovide an improved and novel form of suping rolls 10 and 11, and then is acted upon by port for the shredding roll of cane crushing a shredding roll 12, rotating at a relatively apparatus. high rate of speed, after which it is fed to a Another object of this invention is to projuice expressing mill'having rolls 13', 14 and 15 vide an improved and novel arrangement or 15. The rolls 10 andll arejournaled in frame combination of structures including feeding members 16 and 17 and cooperate to press rolls, a shredding roll, and juice expressing cane received therebetween and to crush the rolls, with means to assist in the feeding of. same while feeding it toward the roll 12. the shredded cane to the latter. The rolls 10 and 11, in this instance, are illus- 20 A stillfifurther object of this invention is trated as being of the 'Krajewski type, the to provide the shredding roll of a device of peripheral surface of each being provided this type with suitable supporting means, with hollows and ridges which intermesh whereby the same may be swung toward or and cause a partial disintegration of the cane away from-the cooperating roll of the pair passed 'therebetween. Intermeshing gears 25 of feeding rolls. 18 and 19, secured respectively to roll shafts A still further object of this invention is 20-and 21, obtain power through a shaft exto provide means forswinging a shredding tension 22, which is suitably driven by any roll relatively to another roll, including desired source of power. means to resiliently retain the shredding roll The shredding rollj12 is journaled in arms 30 in any desired position relatively to the other' 23 and 24 of a swingable supporting member roll. 25. A roll shaft 26, to which the roll 12 is To these and other ends, the invention consecured, extends beyond one of the arms and sists in the novel features and combinations has a gear 27 secured to the end thereof. The of parts to be hereinafter described and member or support 25 is journaled between 35 claimed. brackets 28 and 29, secured respectively to the In the accompanying drawings: frames 16 and 17. A roll support carrying Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of a cane shaft 30, upon which the support 25 is rocrushing and pressing apparatus embodying tatably mounted, extends beyond one of the the features of this invention; brackets and has a gear 31 secured to the end 40 Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of certain thereof. A coupling 32 also secured to the parts shown in Fig. 1, which parts are illusouter end of shaft 30 is provided to connect trated moved to another position; the same with any desired source of power.

Fig. 3 is a view of certain parts shown The gears 27 and 81 intermesh, whereby the in Fig. 1, when looking in the direction of power and movement received by the shaft 30 at the arrow 3 of Fig. 1; is transmitted to the roll 12. o

Lever arms 33 and 34 extend outwardly from the arms 23 and 24, and by means of a link 35, are each connected to a slide 36 slidably supported in ways 37, formed in a bracket 38, secured to each frame 16 and 17. Each slide 36 is connected to a piston rod 39, which is reciprocable by means of a fluid operated piston disposed within a cylinder 40. Ports 41 and 42 are provided in the cylinder 40 to permit the entrance therein of suitably controlled operating fluid, whereby the piston 39 and slide 36 may be moved in either direction.

The roll 12 is provided with a plurality of shredding teeth 43 which are disposed in longitudinally aligned rows, and in staggered relation with respect to each other about the periphery of the roll. These teeth attack the crushed and broken cane as it emerges from the rolls 10 and 11, and by cooperating with the roll 11, cut up and shred the cane into a substantially wavy mass of fibres whereby the juice cells are thoroughly opened up. The roughened surface of roll 11 tends to retard the cane, due partly to the difference in speed between these rolls while the roll 12 acts upon it.

The shredded cane, after leaving the shredding roll, is directed toward a juice expressing mill by a chute 44. A roller 45, driven by a belt or chain 46 from roll 15 of this mill, urges the shredded cane into the bite of the cooperating rolls 13 and 15, between which it passes. After passing the rolls 13 and 15, the cane is turned toward the bite of the cooperating rolls 13 and 14, by a turn-plate 47. From rolls 13 and 14 the pressed cane may be directed to subsequent mills when desired? By means of the fluid controlled swingable support 25, the shredder roll 12 may be adjustably positioned with respect to the roll 11, and be resiliently retained thereat. This arrangement permits an adjustment of the constricted passageway between the roll 11 and the roll 12, to vary the same whereby the capacity to receive and shred cane is adjustable to compensate for variations in the quality of the cane being worked. The resiliency afforded by this arrangement, prevents choking at this point by permitting the shredding roll 12 to swing away from roll 11, whereby foreign articles or a surplus quantity of cane will be permitted to pass should an occasion arise whereby such should pass the rolls 10 and 11. The provision of means to swing the roll 12 away from the roll 11 also permits an inspection of the apparatus at this point, and facilitates repairs thereto. It is also possible, when it is desired to temporarily or otherwise discontinue the shredding action, for testing the action of the rolls 10 and 11, or other experimental requirements, to prevent the action of the shredding roll 12 by swinging it into inoperative position or a position Where the action thereof is substantially ineffective. The clegree of the shredding action may be varied as required by variation in cane quality or sugar mill conditions, by this provision, permitting the swinging of the shredding roll.

The feed roll 45 assists in the reception of the shredded cane by the rolls 13 and 15, by providing an urge thereupon towards these rolls. A scraper plate 48, associated with the roll 45, relieves it from cane which might adhere thereto and directs it toward the rolls 13 and 15. A cover plate 49, secured to and between the frames 50 which support the rolls 13, 14 and 15, prevents the shredded cane over riding the roll 13, and assists in directing the cane toward the cooperating rolls 13 and 15. The plate 49 may be hingedly supported, as at 51, to permit the inspection or observance of the apparatus and action thereof when desired. The combination of plate 49, roll 45, scraper plate 48, and chute 44, forms means by which the shredded can is gradually reduced in bulk and partially compressed to facilitate its entrance between rolls 13 and 15, the roll 45 by its rotating movement, tending to evenly spread the cane fibre mass longitudinally across these rolls.

The form of apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5, differs from the above described form only in the particular arrangement of the parts. In the previously described apparatus, the shredding roll support shaft 30 is disposed below the rolls 10 and 11 and roll 12, whereby the roll 12 will swing over and outwardly away from the roll 11. In the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, this shaft 30 is mounted above the rolls 10 and 11 and the roll 12, whereby the roll 12 will swing under and outwardly away from the roll 11. The latter arrangement, under some conditions, may be preferred over the former, in that there is no possibility of the support 25 interfering with the downward passage of the shredded cane, while the former arrangement might be preferred, possibly due to its more rigid mounting whereby a greater proportion of the urging force tending to support the rolls 11 and 12, would be sustained by the shaft 30 instead of by the fluid controlled devices, as in the latter form. Substantially equal shredding efiiciency, however, is obtainable by the use of either arrangement.

While I have shown and described a pre ferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same is not limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation, which will lie within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim is:

In cane crushing apparatus, a pair of frame members, a pair of cooperating pressure rolls between said frame members, a

driven shaft extending between said frame members and supported thereby, a bracket swingably mounted on said shaft, a roll carried by said bracket, and means to swing said bracket relatively to said pair of rolls to a move said r011 carried thereby into cooperating position with one of said pair of rolls, and means to urge said rolls from said driven shaft.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of May, 1927.

FRANCIS MAXWVELL. 

